Yeosu is one of the country's most picturesque port cities especially at night. Famous for its seafood, beaches, flowers and marinas, it is developing as an international ocean resort and tourist destination as well as being selected as a host city for the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu Harbor.

The city of Yeosu consists of the Yeosu peninsula as well as 317 islands (49 inhabited, 268 uninhabited) with population of 300,000. Yeosu is a city of history and loyalty where the headquarters of South Jeolla Province Navy Base was located, and the Great Admiral Yi Sun Shin invented the Geobukseon or "a turtle ship" to save the country while serving as the Navy Commander when Japan invaded Korea in 16th century.

Lying about midway along the southern coast of South Korea, Yeosu has cool summers and mild winters thanks to the sea wind and warm current. Its blessed ocean climate also brings Yeosu relatively longer springs and autumns than other regions.

Yeosu is fairly spread out with a ton of districts each segregated by mountains or ocean. The main CBD centered around Jungang-dong and the harbor overlooking Dolsan Bridge is quite compact, however.

West of the harbor and through a mountain tunnel is Yeoseo-dong, a roughly circular neighborhood nestled in between mountains with a small downtown district in the center. A great deal further west lies Ssangbong-dong, home to Yeosu City Hall, a second smaller port and a bunch of fancy tourist hotels.

South of the harbor and across Dolsan Bridge are the many islands and islets that make up the Yeosu chain. Most of the larger ones are connected in a rough circle by a road well covered by public transportation. The vast majority of tourist attractions lie on this ring road.

East of the harbor and tucked on another little stretch of coastline is the site for the Yeosu 2012 World Expo, at present a huge construction site. Yeosu's Korail train station is located here.

To finish off the compass points, to the north is the land access to Yeosu, and all the industrial areas (lit up nicely at night).

Finally, there is an additional urban corridor tucked between the harbour, Yeoseodong and the northern region. This thin stretch contains mostly residential housing, but also an E-mart and Yeosu's Intercity Bus Terminal.

Yeosu is developing like most of Korea, but retains a small-town charm that is vanishing from the country.

Korean Air [1] and Asiana Air [2] fly between Yeosu Airport[3](여수공항, 麗水空港,IATA : RSU, ICAO : RKJY)and Gimpo Airport(Seoul) up to 8 times a day and it takes 1 hour. Korean Air also has flight between Yeosu and Jeju on Friday and Sunday. The airport has information desk, convenience store, restaurant, snack bar and rent car office. There are buses to various parts of the city but taxi is cheap and more convenient. It can take up to 1 hour to the downtown(shinae) of Yeosu by car.

The express bus terminal(고속버스터미널) is connected to most bus routes across Korea. From Yeosu, it takes 5 hours 30 minutes to Seoul(Central City terminal) and 2 hours to Gwangju, former capital of South Jeolla.
There are 2 main terminals- one in the middle of the city and one in the Yeocheon neighborhood on the west end of the city. There is a minor terminal in Deogyang neighborhood in the north.

Yeosu has two train stations. The main station is called Yeosu Station yeosuyeok(여수역) which is the southernmost station of Honam line and one stop before that there is smaller Yeocheon Station yeocheonyeok (여천역). Check Korail website for schedule, to check fare or to book tickets [4]

The high-speed train KTX began service to Yeosu October 1, 2011. A trip from Seoul to Yeosu takes about three hours 20 minutes.

The best way around the CBD is by taxi as the city is fairly small and taxi fare is quite cheap. Taxis are highly recommended against if crossing the bridge as Yeosu has some of the worst traffic jams in Korea at this bottleneck, despite its tiny size. Even by bus, it could be optimal to get off, walk the bridge and hop back on the previous bus at the other end. Ridiculous. * Note as of July 2013 this was not an issue for this traveller, in Yeosu for the last two weeks -- a second bridge was built last year for Expo 2012 and the traffic jams seem to have gone away.

The bus system is very convenient, but a little difficult to utilize. Each bus stop should have a posting of the buses that will arrive and their respective stops but most have been inexplicably vandalised. Those that do still exist are strictly in Korean.

Once south of the main bridge, most buses actually take a similar route so it can be easy to hop on and off in whichever direction to wish to head. The one exception to this is a branch where half the buses turn south-east to stop at the hermitage whereas the rest continue south around the island chain.

The "magic number" bus, if you can call it that, is the 111. This bus travels a zig-zagging route from the Intercity bus Terminal to Hyangiram Hermitage via Jinnamgwan and the harbour, crossing the Dolsan Bridge and passing many of the tourism attractions on the southern islands.

Hyangiram Hermitage (향일암). A beautiful temple-like hermitage with views of the sea and the scattered islands that make up Yeosu Peninsula. The hermitage itself is located up the sides of a cliff and the entire complex is connected by a series of very thin trails winding their way through tight caves and under twisted evergreen foliage. Rather claustrophobic, but unique making it one of Yeosu's must-see attractions. The symbol of the hermitage is the turtle, after the distinctive natural hexagonal pattern on the rocks resembling a turtle's shell. In accordance with this, the monks have crafted a veritable army of adorable little stone turtles large enough to perhaps take down Yeosu itself, should they so desire. Lies in a corner of the islands designated as a national park.

Replica turtle ship(거북선) A full-sized replica of one of Admiral Yi's famed turtle ships. You can have a wander around the inside which is stuffed to the brim with some decidedly seasick looking mannequins acting out their daily routine. Situated just south of Dolsan bridge.

Jinnamgwan (진남관) Korea's largest single-storey wooden pavillion. Has a small museum attached. About 100m up the hill from the plaza beside the harbour. Free

Dolsan bridge (돌산대교) is a beautiful bridge with changing lights at night and lots of seafood restaurants and romantic cafes around the area. Good place to see Yeosu's famed nightview. For even more striking nightview, climb up to Dolsan Park (돌산공원) when you cross the bridge.

Maritime Fisheries and Science Museum Located on the thinnest part of Dolsan island, beside the main road.

West market (seoshijang 서시장)

Odong island (오동도)

Jasan Park (자산공원) View of Yeosu. Statue of Yi Sun Shin.

Manseongri Black Sand Beach(만성리): As the only black sand beach in Korea, Manseongri is the liveliest beach in Yeosu with lots of restaurants and cafes along the beach. Along the coast line between Manseongri and Yeosu train station is located Marae Tunnel, the only natural rock tunnel in Korea.

Soho-dong(소호동)- has yacht marina, various restaurants and cozy cafes along the coast.

Ocean Cruise: either leaving from Odongdo (오동도) or across Dolsan Bridge(돌산대교), there are dozens of different cruises hopping different islands in Hallyeo Ocean Park.

Mount Gubong (구봉산) located in yeoseodong(여서동)

Paraocean Waterpark[5]- located in the latest and biggest resort in Yeosu, The Ocean Resort, the waterpark has dozens of indoor and outdoor pools and slides as well spa, restaurants and shops.

Gyeongho island accessed by car ferry (2000 won return) from yeosu fishing port opposite lotte mart offers a full golf course and hotel resort including swimming pool, with many beautiful views of the bay.

Hoe (회, sashimi) is locally enjoyed with spicy and sour sauce (초장) and wrapped in lettuce along with garlic, similar to the way Koreans enjoy BBQ.

Hoe restaurants (whaetjib 횟집) are very popular with locals and seafood restaurants in Jonghwa-dong, Soho-dong, atop the cliffs near Dolsan Bridge (overlooking the harbour) and down by the replica turtle ship on the other side, and in Manseongri offer you opportunities to choose your own fish from the tank. You can also eat fresh seafood in each season. Hoe is good in spring and fall, pike eel dishes in summer, and roasted oysters in winter.

For the utmost seafood experience, it is recommended to visit and enjoy the auction center of Suhyup (Fisheries Cooperatives) in Gukdong Fishing Port at 5PM You can eat fresh raw seafood at a low price provided by dealers.

Also very popular among locals is Seodaewhae(서대회), raw red tongue sole seasoned with spicy sauce and vegetables. If it's too spicy, it can be mixed with hot rice and sesame oil. Many restaurants near marine terminal offers Seodaewhae.

Korean Full Course in Yeosu differs from that of Seoul, as the most dishes are seafood. You can enjoy up to 40 different dishes in one meal. Some of the best ones are Hanilkwan (한일관) and Jasan Ubo (자산어보) in Yeoseo-dong. Minimum $20 per person.

Soho-dong (소호동): dozens of cafes and seafood restaurants along the coast line near the yacht marina

Dolsan Bridge(돌산대교): romantic cafes around the bridge to enjoy the nightview

Lost Shepard Girl. A foreign style "free house" bar, with free pool, darts, and foosball. Features many imported beers, including Guinness on tap. Many of Yeosu's expats hang here on weekends. Located in Yeocheon, near Hobak Night Club and Turtle Park. LSG closed in December 2012edit

A cheap place to sleep is at the local jimjilbang (찜질방). This is a kind of bathhouse that has a communal room for sleeping on the floor. It usually costs about 6000 won. Ask a taxi driver for the closest jimjilbang:

Sporex (스포렉스), Yeoseodong. A gym on the 4th floor of Yeoseodong's main nightlife strip with a tiny jjimjilbanmg attached. Has showers instead of a spa and limited lockers, but the sleeping room upstairs is quite pleasant. Being a smaller establishment, one can expect a bit better night's sleep and greater chances of successfully nabbing a sleeping mat and headrest cube.edit

The Ocean Resort [9] offers condominium style rooms and other facilities. Located in Soho-dong, the resort overlooks yacht marina and its own waterpark. Non-member rate starts from $250 for one bed condominium.